Specialist Referrals

Where referrals go

MNHC works with a network of public, hospital, and community partners so you can receive care beyond our walls — without losing continuity with your primary care provider.

• San Francisco Health Network

  Most referrals route to specialists within the San Francisco Health Network (opens in a new tab)— the city's public hospital and clinic network, including Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Chinatown Family Clinic.

• Hospital & community partners

  For specialty services not available through the public network (some surgeries, complex oncology, etc.), MNHC maintains relationships with UCSF, CPMC, and other Bay Area hospital systems.

• In-house at MNHC

  If your need can be met in-house — e.g. behavioral health, podiatry, or acupuncture — your provider will refer you to an MNHC colleague with no outside paperwork.

How the process works

1. 1

   Talk with your provider

   Discuss your symptoms or needs during your visit. If a referral is the right call, your provider starts it the same day.

2. 2

   Our Referrals team takes the handoff

   The Referrals team verifies your insurance and submits any authorization paperwork your plan requires.

3. 3

   You call the specialty clinic to schedule

   Once your referral is reviewed and cleared, the Referrals team calls you with the specialty clinic's phone number. You call them directly to pick a date and time that works for you. For transportation or an interpreter at the visit, contact your insurance plan — Medicare Advantage plans typically arrange both.

4. 4

   Attend the visit and loop back to MNHC

   After your specialist visit, results route back to your MNHC provider for follow-up — all in your unified medical record.

Check the status of a referral

Specialist authorizations typically take 7 to 21 days depending on insurance plan. If more than three weeks have passed or your condition is worsening, call us.